J44 DR PARNELL'S ACCOUNT OF 



Leuciscus dobula. Leuciscus vulgaris. 



Dorsal and anal fins even at the end. Dorsal and anal fins concaved at the 



end. 



The middle ray of the tail more than The middle ray of the tail not half as 

 half as long as the longest ray of the long as the longest ray of the same fin. 

 same fin. 



Alosa vulgaris, Yarrell, vol. ii. — Alls Shad. 



Specijfc Character. — Jaws without teeth ; sides Avithout spots. 



This species is said to abound in the Severn, and is also occasionally taken in 

 the Thames. On the coast of Scotland it is rare, only appearing in the winter 

 months. 



Alosa finta, Yarrell, vol. ii. — Shad. 



Specific Character. — Jaws with teeth ; sides with spots. In the months of 

 July and August this fish is common on the east coast of Scotland. In the win- 

 ter months it is seldom met with. 



Rhombus hirtus, Yarrell, vol. ii. — Top-knot. 



Specific CJiaracter. — First ray of the dorsal fin not longer than the second ; 

 under surface smooth. 



Tills species of fish is rare, both on the English and Scotch coasts. It is sel- 

 dom known to take a bait, but is occasionally taken in the crab-pots. 



Raia chagrinea, Montagu. — Shagreen Ray. 



Specijic Character. — Tail with two rows of recurved spines ; the middle ridge 

 without spines. 



Few natm'alists appear to have met with this fish. Pennant obtained a 

 specimen fi-om Scarborough, and Colonel Montagu, in the Wernerian Transac- 

 tions, mentions its occmTence on the coast of Devon. 



In the Frith of Forth, in the eaiiy part of spring, I have seen specimens 

 taken, both male and female ; they inhabit deep water. Their flesh is considered 

 inferior as food to that of the grey skate. I may here mention, to prevent con- 

 fusion hereafter, that the fish figm'ed and described by Mr Yarrell, in his work 

 on the British Fishes, under the name of Raia chagrinea, appears to be a new 

 species ; it certainly is not the Shagreen Ray of Montagu or of Pennant, nor does 

 his figiu-e or description agree with the specimens that I have examined from the 

 Frith of Forth. Mr Yarrell, in his figure of this fish, has given too great a 

 length of snout, and the spines on the taU, which ought to be very much curved, 

 are represented as perfectly straight, wliich latter character is peculiar to the 

 Rata JBatis or grey skate. 



